European Brass Band Contest 2005

Just wondered what people's thoughts are on the contest being held in Groningen in the Netherlands in April. 4barsrest have put a whole lot of Press releases on about it. To me I hope it proves to be a fantastic success, and hope it proves that they can run a successful event without besson. They have got a website running for the event www.ebba.eu.com

:redface: ... anyway, I see that again that bands have chosen to play a limited choice of pieces again! I know that it is an own choice format but wouldn't it be better for the audience if one piece was chosen from a shortlist, of say four tests, by the organisers to create diversity?

Going back to my original thread I am sure eveyone will join more in feeling quite sad that Besson were not prepared to going into mediation with the EBBA. I just hope the whole week is great success for the organisers.

From what I gather from the discussions on www.brassinfo.nl, the people over there are really looking forward to the contest. They only seem a bit worried about the acoustical qualities of the contest accomodations. originally, they wanted to organize the contest in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw (concert building), one of the best classical concert halls in Europe. but apparently, it was impossible to book the concertgebouw for an entire weekend, so they had to move it all to Groningen, in the North of Holland. This is the region of netherlands that has the most brass bands (as oposed to the South, which is more into wind bands). Tha Martiniplaza in Groningen is also the place were the Dutch national championships are held, but apperently the EBBC wil be in another, bigger hall in the same building.